MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, has visited staff at the new 24/7 primary care service in central Portsmouth.

The Integrated Primary Care Service has been established to enhance patient experience and improve access to GP services in the city. The service opened earlier this year and incorporates the existing Acute Visiting Service and Extended Access Service and adds Out of Hours provision overnight.

The linking of these services leads to the provision of a more streamlined and unified model for people needing urgent out-of-hospital care.

Appointments can be accessed during the evenings and weekends at a city-wide hub at Lake Road Health Centre. Additional routine appointments are available as well as urgent same-day appointment every day until 10pm 365 days a year.

The service sees around 2,500 patients referred each month.

Stephen Morgan MP, said:

“The IPC Service is a brilliant example of our city’s NHS innovating and improving in the face of significant demographic and financial challenges.

The commitment and skill of the staff I spoke to was obvious and this new system will ensure that they can continue to help people in Portsmouth.

This is an incredibly busy service and this new integration should go some way in reducing pressure on our A&E as well as improving access to GPs.”

So it is only fitting that this year we specifically say ‘Thank You’ to the First World War generation who served, sacrificed and changed our world.

Thousands of volunteers will help sell and distribute paper poppies in the following days. I will be out and about in our city doing my bit too.

I want to take this opportunity to offer my appreciation to those in Portsmouth doing our city proud by volunteering with the appeal and in respect of all those who sacrificed their lives for a more peaceful world”.

Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan will be hosting a special event next month with Lord Frank Judd of Portsea, Labour Peer and former Member of Parliament for Portsmouth West and North constituencies.

The special public eventon November 11, will be held at Canoe Lake Tennis Pavilionbetween 4 and 6pmand will be an informal ‘audience with’, an open discussion and question and answer session.

Lord Frank Judd served as MP for Portsmouth West and North in the 1960s and 70s, served as a minister under Callaghan and Wilson, including Junior Minister for the Royal Navy, and entered the Lords in 1991.

Lord Frank Judd said:

“Having served as an MP in Portsmouth during the 1960s and 70s it is a city I hold fond memories of.

“I know Stephen well and fully supported his campaign to become the first Labour MP in Portsmouth South. He is committed to representing the great city that he was born bred in and I am delighted that he has invited me back on what is a special day in history.

“I look forward to sharing my memories, thoughts and observations on a range of issues and hearing those of the people of Portsmouth.”

Portsmouth is a city that he has a lot of history with, he worked closely with the Royal Navy when he was Junior Minister and did some amazing work as Minister for Overseas Development so there’s lots we can learn from him.

“Frank endorsed my General Election campaign last year and I’d like to show my thanks for that support by inviting him back to Portsmouth this special event.”

MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, has pledged his support for the Long Live the Local Campaign to help pubs in Portsmouth remain open in what are difficult times for small business.

Stephen is calling on the Government to cut beer tax at the budget. With £1 in every £3 spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers now pay 40% of all beer tax across the EU, but only drink 12% of the beer.

Breweries and pubs support 2124 jobs in Portsmouth and contribute £44.6 million to the local economy.

Commenting on the campaign, Stephen Morgan MP said:

“Pubs are at the heart of communities in Portsmouth, but with three British pubs closing their doors for good every day the Government needs to cut beer tax to keep them open.

With my ‘pint with your MP’ sessions bringing politics to the local, it’s clear to me how central pubs are to tackling loneliness and connecting our communities.

Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, has offered his thanks to those who served, sacrificed, and changed our world during the First World War through the Royal British Legions ‘Thank you’ movement.

The Royal British Legion launched the campaign this year, which is the centenary of the end of the First World War by calling on mass involvement from the public to recognise the legacy left to us by the entire First World War generation.

‘Thank You’ honours not only the 1.1 million British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who lost their lives in the First World War, but also those who played their part on the home front, and those who returned to build a better life for the benefit of generations to come.

Stephen Morgan MP said:

“I was pleased to meet the Royal British Legion recently and to hear about their work leading up to the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Portsmouth has a proud place in our nation’s history, and played a big part in shaping what our country and lives look like today.

100 years later it is more important than ever that we don’t forget the sacrifices made during and after the first world war and that’s why I am joining the British Legion in saying ‘Thank you.”

Charles Byrne, Director General of The Royal British Legion, said:

“We all have a connection to the First World War, for me it is Private Ross Ryan, my grandfather, and we all have a reason to say ‘Thank You’ to this special generation.

Whether your personal ‘Thank You’ is an event dedicated to those who made a difference in your community, a visit to a place of significance, or a simple tweet, there’s no limit to the ways people can take part.

We are making a plea to every single person across the UK to get involved and take a moment in this very significant year to say ‘Thank You’.”

For further information and to find out how you can get involved in the ‘Thank You’ movement, please visit rbl.org.uk/thankyou and share your story on social media with #ThankYou100

The ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign is a partnership between Association of Colleges (AoC), National Union of Students (NUS), Association of College and School Leaders (ASCL), University and Colleges Union (UCU), Unison, GMB, TUC and National Education Union (NEU).

Portsmouth College is well known for providing an excellent education to learners from right across the city and beyond. It has grown rapidly from966 16-18year olds in 2010, to 1442 as at September 2018. It also runs courses for adults on four evenings a week and now runs apprenticeships for 300 young people and adults. It has also just started running programmes for international students.

It is also well known for offering an innovative service to its learners, with its unique timetable, use of iPads and its E6 programme of additional activities and opportunities.

However, there is currently a reduction in education funding once a student turns 16 – whether they are in a school sixth form or a college. ‘Love Our Colleges’ is calling on government to increase 16-19 funding by 5% a year for 5 years. It is also asking Department for Education to provide exceptional funding, ring-fenced for teacher pay.

Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP said:

“Our colleges are a credit to our city, and it was great to pay a visit to Portsmouth College today to thank them in person for the brilliant work they do transforming lives. Further education is key to the strength of our communities and economy, but it has seen funding slashed by this Government.

I back the AoC’s call for the Chancellor to invest in our young people and raise funding by 5%.

The Government are holding our teachers and their students back, but I’ll continue to fight for the resources they need to thrive.”

Portsmouth College Principal Simon Barrable said:

“Portsmouth College is right at the heart of our community and wants to continue to provide its excellent and innovative service to this community. In order to do so, we need to be properly funded going forward. The 5% increase being asked for would help to ensure that all colleges can continue to deliver and indeed improve the services they offer.”

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said:

“Every single day colleges like Portsmouth provide a world class education and transform the lives of millions of people.

Colleges Week is an opportunity to celebrate the brilliant things that go on and a chance to showcase the brilliant staff that make it possible. It is simple, if we want a world-class education system then we need to properly invest in it.”